Counting device.



V. M. HADDON.

COUNTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1o, 1911.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

V. M. HADDON.

COUNTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. Io, 1911.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIRG-IL M. HADDON, OF LOUISVILLE, NEBRASKA.

COUNTING- DEVICE.

To all whom 'it may concern: f

Be it known that I, VIRGIL M. HADDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Cass and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in counting devices for use in connection with the game of billiards, fifteen-ball pool or the like, and has for its object, broadly, to provide a counting board which may be constructed economically, and will be convenient and durable in use.

The invention consists of t-he novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a vertical'side view, partly broken away, of the counting device. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on line o o of Fig. 1, to clearly show the supporting board and apertures in the longitudinal bracket; the endless belts and counting-pins in said view being omitted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view, being a section on line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail relating to Fig.

1, being a front View of one of the disks.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the disk and support, being a transverse section on line b o of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front view of the dial. Fig. 7 is a detail relating to Fig. 1, showing a roller disposed in an aperture of the supporting-board or sheet. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail relating to Fig. 1, to clearly show the arrangement of angular supporting-plates or brackets and movable curtains or belts. Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the curtains or belts.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, numeral 16 indicates a frame consisting, preferably, of a iat support or vertical, rectangular, metallic sheet 17, which may have apertures 18 formed therein, and within these apertures may be disposed rollers 19, said rollers being suitably journaled and supported by the metallic sheet.

IVhile I have shown a rectangular frame as the preferred form, I do not, of course, limit myself to eXactness in this respect, nor to the material employed, but the frame may be constructed to advantage of sheet metal, and if this material is used, sheet 17 may have transverse flanges 2O upon which may be conveniently mounted the outer,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 10, 1911.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

Serial No. 619,979.

metallic sheet or plate 21, bent to an angular form toprovide the outer part of the frame.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows an arrangement of four sections so of counters, and for each of these counting-sections, consecutive numbers or indicating characters, as indicated at d, are arranged in alinement as a series, and preferably are disposed horizontally upon the front side of sheet 17; and numerals 1 to 15, inclusive, may be employed for each series, as shown in the drawing.

Upon rollers 19 may be mounted the horizontally disposed, elongated curtain-members or endless belts 22. The frame may be mounted upon a wall or other support by use of staples 23, and the belts or curtainstrips maybe moved horizontally and manually by use of the vertically disposed counting-pins 24, one of these pins being slidably mounted in staples 25 secured to each belt; and each belt has a transparent part or aperture 2.6 adjacent to its counting-pin.

At 27 is indicated a horizontal, angularly formed strip or bracket extending nearly across the frame and secured to sheet 17 by rivets 28, said bracket having a downwardly projecting display-flange 29 which may bear a series of visible designating characters f, each of these characters being immediately above, in vertical alinement, and corresponding to a designating character of one of counting sections oo.

At 31 are indicated angular supportingplates or longitudinal brackets somewhat similar to bracket 27. They may be secured to sheet 17 by use oi' rivets 32. 'Brackets 31 are substantially of the same length as and disposed parallel with bracket 27, and they have display-ange's 33 bearing indicating characters or numerals g, the numerals of display flanges 29 and 33 being disposed above and vin alinement with the corresponding numerals of the counting-sections Each of brackets 31, prefer. bly, is Jformed with a horizontal ledge 34 with an upwardly projecting terminal or flange 35, and when the parts are assembled, the lower edges of the belts may rest lightly upon the ledges, flanges 35 being disposed at the front of the belts. Ledges 34 are provided, at longitudinal intervals, with apertures 36, and after the belts have been moved, the lower end of counting-pins 24 may be inserted in the Ilapertures, for the purpose of detaining the elts.

An operator, when using the device, may

move any one of the belts horizontally, as above mentioned, and may cause a countingpin 24 to be inserted in any one of apertures 36. The belts generally obstruct a view of the numerals upon sheet 17, but said numerals may be visible through the apertures. The use of numerals f and g upon the respective display fianges 29 and 33, is for the convenience of the operator when counting; and since consecutive numerals are employed upon sheet 17 and upon the display flanges, and since similar numbers borne by these elements are disposed in vertical alinement, the operator, when counting, may readily ascertain how far the belt should be moved.

After the operator has moved the belt so that all of the numerals in a series Z have been counted, the counting-pin may be elevated, and by its use as a holder, the belt may then be moved reversely or to the left of Fig. 1, and the counting of the numerals of said series d may be repeated.

At 37 is indicated a stationary disk, and near its periphery it may have a single aperture 38; it may be rigidly mounted, at its middle, upon post 39 secured upon sheet 17. Between disk 37 and sheet 17 is indicated a rotatable dial 40, provided at its middle with a sleeve 41, said sleeve being mounted upon post- 39. One of these dials is provided for each counting-section. At its periphery, each dial is provided With the detent-finger or spring 42, and upon its front side, near its periphery, it bears indicating characters or numerals 7L. A view of the numerals of the dial is generally obstructed, since it is disposed rearwardly of the disk, but when the dialis rotated upon post 39, numerals k will be presented in succession, adjacent to aperture 38 of the disk, and therefore, will be visible at that point. Numerals upon dials 40 are multiples of the highest number employed upon the counting-sections x of sheet 17; and in operation,

after a count of fifteen has been made upon one of sections x, the operator, by use of finger-piece 42, may cause a partial rotatio-n of a dial, until numeral 15 of said dial is visible through aperture 38.

After the operator has again moved the endless belt upon one of counting-sections m until an additional fifteen has been counted thereon, a partial rotation of the dial may again be made, until numeral 30 of the dial is visible through aperture 38 of the disk; and the counting may thus be repeated, the dial being moved a part of one rotation whenever fifteen has been counted upon a counting-section m, the total scores made or counted upon a counting-sectio-n being thus registered or indicated by the dial.

At 43 is indicated a plate which may be suitably mounted upon plate 21, the same being disposed parallel with and at the front of sheet 17, and having circular apertures 44 formed therein, and also having recesses 46 opening upon said apertures 44 adjacent to disks 37, said recesses being for the engagement of finger-pieces 42; and therefore, in the operation of counting by use o-f the dial, when 15, 30, 45 or any multiple of fifteen has been counted, the engagement of finger-piece 42 in one of recesses 46 Will prevent any movement of the dial until the finger-piece has been manually Wit-hdrawn from the recess.

Thile I have shown and described numerals 1 to 1.5, inclusive, for eac-h countingsection m, I do not limit myself to any particular number of numerals so employed; and while in Fig. 6, I have shown the numeral 15 and its multiple, to the number of 105, I do not limit myself thereby, it only being necessary that the highest number employed for the countingsections w be considered, and multiples thereof be employed for the rotatable dials 40. Also While I have shown a slidable counting-pin 24, vertically disposed and movable Within staples 25, for engagement Within the apertures of the brackets, I do not limit myself to this exact construction, it only being necessary that detaining means be employed so that the endless belt may be held in a fixed position, temporarily, after a counting has been made upon one of counting-sections m. The particular use of flange 35 is to provide a guide or foot rail, upon the inner side of which the lower edge of the belt may be disposed and supported; and the flange obscures from view any inequalities or roughness in the lower edge of the belt.

lVhile I have shown four counting sections fr and dials therefor, the device may comprise a greater or lesser number, as may be desired. Also the counting device may be operated to advantage in some instances by using the counting-sections, and dispensing with the dials, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect.

At 47, near the bottom of the frame, is indicated a longitudinal bracket, similar in some respects to brackets 27 and 31. It has a horizontal ledge 34 and an upwardly projecting flange 35. The ledge supports the curtain or belt to prevent sagging thereof.

Having fully described the several parts, a further explanation relating to operation is not necessary.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. A counting device, comprising a support bearing numerals arranged to provide adjacently disposed, horizontal countingsections. each section consisting of the same numerals arranged consecutively; elongated brackets mounted upon the support parallel with the counting-sections, said brackets forming display strips and transverse Cil ledges, said display strips bearing the same numerals as said counting-sections; the corresponding numerals of the display strips and counting-sections being disposed in alinement; apertured belts disposed edgewise at the front of the counting-sections and movable upon the ledges, and devices upon said belt and said ledges for detaining said belt with its aperture disposed in alinement with the corresponding aliniarng numerals of said display strips.

Q. A counting device, comprising a support bearing numerals arranged to provide adjacently disposed, horizontal countingsections, each section consisting of the same numerals arranged consecutively; elongated brackets mounted upon the support parallel with the counting-sections, said brackets forming display strips and transverse, apertured ledges with upset fianges, said display strips bearing the same numerals as said counting sections; apertured belts provided with counting-pins and disposed edgewise at the front of the counting-sections and movable upon the ledges, inwardly of said flanges, the counting-pins being adapted to engage within the apertures of said ledges, the corresponding numerals of the display strips and counting-sections being disposed in alinement.

In testimony whereof I have aHiXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VIRGIL M. HADDON. Vitnesses:

D. K. BARR, H. A. FUNKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

